Police earlier raided the offices of Samarco, a joint
venture of Vale SA and BHP Billiton, in Belo
Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais state, and in Mariana,
where the iron pellets venture is located.

"We have all the autopsy reports. ... The crime of homicide
occurred, we will decide if it was voluntary or involuntary,"
police chief Rodrigo Bustamente said, according to Folha.

Bustamente could not be reached immediately for comment.

Samarco did not respond immediately to a request for comment
on the possibility of homicide charges. Earlier, in a statement
in which Samarco reported the raid on its offices, the company
said in it had collaborated with police since investigations
began into the cause of the tragedy that left at least 17 dead
and 800 homeless.

Mud surging from the dam devastated an entire neighborhood
in Mariana and contaminated a river that supplies fresh water to
a large area in Minas Gerais and the neighboring state of Esprit
Santo. The tragedy is considered Brazil's worst-ever
environmental disaster.

State civil police could not be reached for comment on the
potential homicide accusations. Only prosecutors can formally
present criminal charges in Brazil.

The report of the police raid of the Samarco offices
occurred a day after Minas Gerais state said the dam burst
caused losses to municipalities estimated at 1.2 billion reais
($303 million), not considering environmental problems. The
federal government is seeking up to 20 billion reais in
indemnities.